The traditional Best/Favorite image of 2011 thread is open on the forums and is, as always, gathering an amazing array of images. The idea behind the thread is to add shots that have significance or meaning to you over the past year, which may be your “best” one, but can also be one that has a particular symbolism for an experience, event or trip that you have had in 2011. These threads are fantastic, as if you go back to previous years (2009, 2010), they show an amazing diversity and talent among the Wetpixel community.

In accordance with tradition as well, many people can’t choose, and post multiple best/favorite shots! (Image by Clinton Bauder from the thread.)

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BBC Natural History Unit producer Kathryn Jeffs has written an article about the making of the amazing time-lapse footage that documents the formation of a brinicle under the ice in Antarctica. On the BBC Nature pages, she describes how on their first attempt, after leaving the camera and lights in place overnight, a seal had knocked the camera over and rendered the footage useless. The next attempt produced the footage that was eventually used in the Frozen Planet series. The shot needed : “Three underwater tripods, three underwater lighting stands, three cameras, three lights, two control boxes, and countless cables which were all placed and held down with lead weights” under the ice in 2°C water.

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Sea Shepherd’s vessels in the Southern Oceans intercepted the Japanese whaling fleet on Christmas day, one thousand miles north of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. The Steve Irwin deployed a drone which located and photographed the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru on 24 December. Sea Shepherd are attempting to blockade the factory ship, which means that the harpoon vessels are unable to hunt. Subsequently, three Japanese harpoon/security ships moved to shield the Nisshin Maru to allow it to escape but the presence of the drones (one is also on the Sea Shepherd vessel Bob Barker) means that the position of the factory ship can be updated for future interdiction.

The early interception of the whaling fleet means that the Sea Shepherd will have a good chance to disrupt and possibly stop the fleet from whaling this season.

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FIX has announced the release of an aluminum housing for the Canon S100 compact camera. It features access to individual command dials for control of f-stop and shutter speed, as well as a half-press to focus shutter release. It has a fixed lens port, but is compatible with both 67 and 52mm wet lenses. Lastly, it has a flash blocker and optical cable mounting port to allow strobe connection with fiber optic cables.

The housing will be available in early January at a retail price of $879.95.

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Misool Baseftin, the eco-charity arm of Misool Eco Resort, are one of the top 10 finalists in Rare and National Geographic‘s Solution Search: Turning the Tide for Coastal Fisheries. This is a global contest to recognize community-based innovations for near-shore fisheries based on proven success stories.

The finalists are up for a public vote that ends on 24 December, 2011. The winning entry will receive a $20,000 grant and will be featured in National Geographic. If you have time, please make your way to the contest’s site and vote.

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